"Dear Steve, I saw a patient this morning with your book [in hand] and highlights throughout. She loves it and finds it very useful to help her in dealing with atrial fibrillation."

Dr. Wilber Su Cavanaugh Heart Center, Phoenix, AZ

"Your book [Beat Your A-Fib] is the quintessential most important guide not only for the individual experiencing atrial fibrillation and his family, but also for primary physicians, and cardiologists."

"Steve Ryan's summaries of the Boston A-Fib Symposium are terrific. Steve has the ability to synthesize and communicate accurately in clear and simple terms the essence of complex subjects. This is an exceptional skill and a great service to patients with atrial fibrillation."

Dr. Jeremy Ruskin of Mass. General Hospital and Harvard Medical School

Local anesthesia

FAQs Understanding A-Fib: Local anesthesia

12. “I read that the local anesthesia my dentist uses may trigger my A-Fib. Why is that? What can I do about it?”

Dr. Sam, a retired MD, wrote to caution A-Fib patients that local anesthesia containing epinephrine can trigger your A-Fib. Local anesthesia (with Epi or Adrenalin) is used by dentists and emergency room personnel.

Dr. Sam writes:

At the Dentist: “This past year I had to have a dental implant and bridgework requiring that I have Local Anesthesia several times. The dentist uses local anesthesia with Epinephrine (Epi or Adrenalin) to numb your mouth.

Epinephrine (Epi or Adrenalin) is one of the drugs EPs can use when completing a catheter ablation—they try to trigger A-Fib to check that their ablation scars for working. So dental local anesthesia with Epinephrine (Epi) potentially can trigger A-Fib. I found very little info online about this and no studies had been done about dental anesthesia with Epi & A-Fib.

My EP said he thought it would be OK to use. So I had it, and within 30 minutes I was in A-Fib which lasted about 20 minutes and then I went back into NSR.

From then on I requested my dentist use only local anesthesia without Epi, and I had no more A-Fib episodes. Dentists like to use local anesthesia with Epi because it lasts longer and reduces bleeding locally.

Discuss with your dentist if you think you’re sensitive. Tell him/her you have A-Fib.”

At the Opthamologist: “The drops that the eye doctor uses to dilate your eyes are similar to Adrenalin. Discuss with your eye doctor if you think you’re sensitive. Tell him/her you have A-Fib.”

At the Emergency Room: “In the ER doctors use local anesthesia with Epi to sew up lacerations and/or to do small surgical procedures requiring local anesthesia, because it reduces bleeding locally and lasts longer. Tell your doctor you have A-Fib and discuss your concern that the use of local anesthesia with Epi may trigger your Atrial Fibrillation.”

FAQs: Understanding Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial Fibrillation patients often have loads of “Why?” and “How?” questions. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions by patients and their families. (Click on the question to jump to the answer.)

Disclaimer: the authors of this Web site are not medical doctors and are not affiliated with any medical school or organization. The information on this site is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health professional prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing contained in this service is intended to be for medical diagnosis or treatment.